Cutting trap



R. A. LINCOLN CUTTING TRAP Jan. 17, 1928.

Filed April 7, 1927 Max. M

Patented Jan. 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES nonnnr A. LINCOLN, or 'WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS.

CUTTING TRAP.

Application filed April 7, 1927. Serial No. 181,814.

- My invention relates to a device for receiving cuttings from a welldrill during the operation of drilling deep wells. In some formationswhere the rotary system of drilling is employed, it is almost impossibleto get the flushing fluid tocirculate into and from the well, on accountof the fact that the formation in which the drill is working is of aporous rock-having a\ gas 1 pressure therein. This gas pressure issuiiicient to prevent a moderate amount of water from passing into thegas stratum, but when the pressure of the gas is exceeded by the columnof liquid in the hole, the liquid pressure is suflicient to cause thewater tov pass into the porous rock against the gas pressure, and insuch case there will be no returns of the flushing fluid to the surface.

The cuttings from the drill are not, there- 2 fore, removed from thewell and it is impossible to obtain samples of the formation and toprevent'the accumulation of the cuttings in the hole.

It is an object of my invention to provide a trap for the cuttings fromthe drill which 1 will receive and hold the said cuttings and enable theoperator to bring said cuttings along with the drill and drill stem tothe surface.

It is desired to form in connection with the usual drill stem and drillcollar now: enployed a container and a guide leading thereto to receiveand direct the cuttings into the container, so that the cuttings may beremoved from the well.

The invention resides in the particular construction and arrangement ofthe parts making up the invention, and for a clear understanding thereofattention is directed to the drawing herewith, wherein Fig. 1 is a,central vertical section through a portion of the drill stem with myinvention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the plane2--2 of Fig. 1.

In carrying out my invention, it is to be understood that any suitabletype of well drill may be employed, the device being particularlyadapted for use with hard formation or rock drills. It is customary indrill- 5 ing to provide above the drill a few sections of drill stem ofsomewhat larger diameter than the remainder ofthe drill stem, thesesections being adapted to more nearly fill the well bore and thereforeact to guide the drill in a straight line. In the drawing, I have shownat the lower end of my device a tool,

joint pin or collar 1, the lower end of which is formed with a taperedthreaded shank 2 for engagement with a drill collar. The upper endofthis tool joint is threaded for engagement with a section 3 of drillstem.

The upper end of the drill stem section 3 is secured to a specialcoupling member4, the upper end of which has a threadedshank 5 forengagement with a coupling member by means of which it is secured to theadjacent section of drill stem. The member 4 has formed on its outerperiphery one or more upwardly flaring rings or guide members 6, theconstruction of which will be noted from Fig. 1. These rings are curvedupwardly and away from the body of the coupling and are saucer-shaped soas to receive within the upper side 7 thereof the cuttings which areflushed upwardly away from the drill. There may be one or more of thesecutting receivers and the wall of the coupling within the said rings isperforated,

as shown at 8, to allow the cuttings received within the guides to passinto the interior of the drill stem. As will be noted from Fig. 2, thereis a series of these openings allowing the free passage of cuttings tothe drill stem from all sides.

To conduct the flushing fluid through the drill stem on its waydownwardly t0 the drill, I contemplate employing a separate tube orbarrel 9 extending centrally downward through the coupling members4and 1. This tube 9 forms a fluid tight connection with the two couplingmembers by the use -of stuffing boxes in the said couplings. A

recess 10 is formed in the ends of said couplings to receive acompressible packing 11 and a gland 12 may be screwed downwardly in therecess against the packing to compress it against the tube 9.

. I contemplate using my invention with more than one section of thedrill stem, if necessary, and the tube 9, will extend through thesections of drill stem equipped with my invention, thus permitting theflushing fluid to pass from'the upper sections of the drill stemdownwardly'to the drill in an obvious manner.-

The tool joint pin'l may have lateral openings 13 therein which arethreaded to be closed by plugs 14. These openings are provided forpurposes of cleaning the interior of the section 3 by means of fluidunder pressure after the device has been withdrawn from the hole.

gravity and will be received within the guide In the operation of adrill equipped with my invention, the drill in cutting up and Idisintegrating the formation will allow the passage jtherethroug h offlushing liquid which will enga e with the cuttings of the drill andcarry them upwardly by the force of the current for some distance beforethe level of-the liquid in the well has been reached, and the forceofthe flushing fluid spent. The cuttings thus carried upwardly outsidethe drill stem will drop back by pressure may be forced thlpu 11 saidopenings so asto help wash the cuttings from the pipe.

be apparent to those skilled in the art out further description.

What I claim as new and desire to protectiby Letters Patent is:

with- 1 couplings.

The advantages of this constriiction will 1. A device of the characterdescribed including a section of drill stem, coupling members at eachend thereof, a tube extending longitudinally through said couplings andpipe section, means to form a fluid tight fit between said 0011 lingsand said tube, and guide rings extending laterally from the upper ofsaidcouplings, there being openings in saidcoupling member from withinsaid guide rings in the manner described.

2. In a device of the character described adrill stem section, couplingmembers at the upper and lower ends thereof, laterally extending guidemembers formed on the u per of said couplings, there being openings romabove said guide members to the interior of said'couplin'g, and means toconduct flushin fluid through said drill stem and said 3. Ina device ofthe character described a. drill stem section, a coupling at the upperend of said section, said coupling having openings therein to receivecuttings, and means to guide said cuttings into said openings comprisingupwardly flarin guide rings on said coupling connected t erewith belowsaid openings.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature this first day ofApril, A. D. 1927.

ROBERT A. LINCOLN.

